Today’s Verse – Galatians 4:6-7
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. —Galatians 4:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The first vocalizations of many babies are the syllables “ab-ba, ab-ba, ab-ba.” Not surprisingly, in Jesus’ day, abba was the tender name babies used for their physical fathers. When God saved us, he gave us his Spirit. The Holy Spirit blesses us in many ways. One of the key blessings is the Spirit’s work with us in prayer. He intercedes for us when words can’t express the emotions we have inside us (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit helps us approach God with familiarity, dependency, and respect as we call God our Abba Father. My Prayer… Thank you, Abba Father, for loving us, saving us, and inviting us into your family. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for helping us share our thoughts, words, and emotions with the Father when words won’t do — they are simply inadequate to express our emotions inside of us. Thank you, dear Abba Father, for giving us the power to be what you want us to be. Thank you, Jesus, for the Holy Spirit at work in me, validating me as God’s beloved child. In Jesus’ name, I thank and praise you. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Daily Prayer for April 6
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. l Corinthians 2:2, RSV Lord our God, Father of us all, bless our community in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. May your Spirit carry out what we are powerless to do, so that we experience strength and joy, something from eternity, and can face life with all its evil, pain, and suffering. For you have drawn us to yourself, and in spirit, soul, and body we belong to another world, higher than this earthly and passing one. We want to remain true to this higher world, that your praise may come from one heart and from one voice, that the name of Jesus Christ may shine in us and show us the way to all that is true and eternal. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Fidelity in Little Things François Fénelon True love to God thinks nothing small. It acts with simplicity. Read now Year of Wonder Paul J. Pastor Two poems listen keenly to the language of nature’s seasons. Read now Experiencing Bach Zito Madu I had little appreciation for classical music until 2022, when a series of Bach performances changed the course of my life. Read now Gripped by the Infinite Annemarie Wächter How did a young woman who once rejected all claims of absolute truth find her way to faith and a meaningful vocation? Read now The PloughCast 80: The Technology of Middle-Earth Sebastian Milbank, Matthew Scarince and Susannah Black Roberts Matthew Scarince and Sebastian Milbank discuss Tolkien and Technology. Read now
Today’s Verse – Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. —Colossians 4:5-6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus warned us that we will answer to God for every idle word we share with others (Matthew 12:36-37). In our time when social media echoes with mean-spirited, ugly, and divisive words, we must hear the LORD’s warning about choosing our words carefully. Paul also challenged us to be vigilant about what we say and how we say it. The apostle emphasized how significant our influence can be on those who don’t know Christ. We want to seize every opportunity to open the hearts of unbelievers to Jesus. We must show kindness, demonstrate care, and exercise control in how we use our speech — to outsiders and our brothers and sisters in Christ. The eternal destiny of outsiders often rests on our conversations and actions with them. Let’s season our speech with care, using gracious speech and kind words. Let’s take advantage of every opportunity we have to open the hearts of others to the grace of Jesus! The following ToGather video was originally used on Sunday, April 5, 2020, during social distancing restrictions on our larger gatherings. We hope this ToGather video is an added blessing for you today. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Holy and Righteous God, I know we sometimes break your heart when we, your people, wound and drive unbelievers away with thoughtless and insensitive talk and unkind posts on social media. Please help me as I seek to display a winsome attitude with all people, especially toward those who do not yet know Jesus as their LORD and Savior. Use my life and my words to open people’s hearts to Jesus. In his name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
05 Apr 2024
Our duty is to also live in fellowship with those around us and share the love of God with them. We ought to minister to others as God ministers to us. Fellowship with Him will provide the grace and resources to do so. This is one way through which they will experience the love of God. Acts 2:42-47.
Daily Prayer for April 5
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:5-8, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for this day and for all the loving kindness you pour out on us. May we continue to receive your help and your protection. Bless us in whatever we are allowed to do in your service, that it may always be done in love to all people. Watch over us this night and be with us. May your will be done throughout the world, so that at last all confusion may come to an end, Satan’s work may be destroyed, and your children may shout for joy that your will is being done on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Experiencing Bach Zito Madu I had little appreciation for classical music until 2022, when a series of Bach performances changed the course of my life. Read now Gripped by the Infinite Annemarie Wächter How did a young woman who once rejected all claims of absolute truth find her way to faith and a meaningful vocation? Read now The PloughCast 80: The Technology of Middle-Earth Sebastian Milbank, Matthew Scarince and Susannah Black Roberts Matthew Scarince and Sebastian Milbank discuss Tolkien and Technology. Read now An Octopus, a Septuagenarian, and a Millennial Amy Parilee Rickards Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures portrays how rich life can be when we nurture meaningful connections with one another. Read now The First Need of the Church John Stott On the evening of the first Easter day, the disciples heard a word of promise. Read now
Today’s Verse – Galatians 4:4
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. —Galatians 4:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Wow! What a rich passage loaded with many wonderfully challenging ideas. God made history ready for the Savior, then sent his Son as that Savior. God’s Son then dealt with all the difficulties of the law, the religious politics, and the frailties of mortality. Our Father bought our freedom at the terrible cost of his Son’s crucifixion on a cross in front of a jeering mob jealous of his Son’s popularity and afraid of his power. God allowed this so he could raise Jesus from the dead, and you and I could become his honored children, entitled with the Son to the Father’s full inheritance (Romans 8:17). Paul is not being prejudiced or sexist in saying that we are given the rights of sons because in his day, daughters often didn’t have any rights of inheritance. So, he is saying everyone — men and women — have the full rights of an honored son. God’s perfectly timed plan and perfect Son led to the Father’s perfect sacrifice that paid our ransom from sin and death, bringing us salvation and the assurance of glory in the future. My Prayer… Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all the pain it caused you to send Jesus and to see him persecuted, ridiculed, and crucified. Thank you for redeeming me from my sinful condition, for buying me out of the death that would have been the consequence of my sins, and for giving me the gift of freedom in Christ and the assurance that I will receive the full inheritance of your honored Son. To you belongs all glory, honor, and praise for your marvelous grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
04 Apr 2024
I always marvel at the story of Jesus that runs throughout the bible. God’s plan for the salvation of mankind was so intricately planned and executed so that we may enjoy eternal life. His motivation was love, love, love for you and for me. Acts 2:34-41.
A Brief Look Back
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, What drew you to follow Me? What called your heart to open up to Me? What convinced you that We — Father, Son, and Spirit — deeply love you and want you as part of Our family? During the last week before My crucifixion, Philip and Andrew brought some Greeks (non-Jews) to Me. They had come to worship at the Passover festival and wanted to see Me. The coming of non-Jews seeking to meet Me and learn about Me was a huge confirmation in My heart that the time had come for Me to go to the cross. You see, My death on the cross was for all people. It was one of the Father’s ways of drawing the hearts of all people to Him so they could know His love for them (John 12:32-33). For Me, going to the cross was the ultimate way to glorify the Father. In going to the cross, the Father exercised His power to reach out to Jews and non-Jews — including you today, whatever your racial identity. My cross called to the hearts of all those seeking for something more to life than what they had found — those seeking to know the one true God. As an instrument of execution, the cross was brutal, gross, morbid, and ghastly. While crucifixion was an excruciating death, the primary intention was to execute a person in as humiliating a way as possible. Crucifixion was intended to be a deterrent aimed at all those aligned with or sympathetic to the person crucified. For Me, as a Jew, crucifixion also carried another significant consequence: the person hung on a cross — sometimes called a pole or tree — was considered cursed by God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). The apostle Paul would pick up on this theme and speak great truth about the cross when he said the following: The Anointed One [Christ], the Liberating King, has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. It was stated in the Scriptures, “Everyone who hangs on a tree is cursed by God.” (Galatians 3:13) My resurrection reversed the whole meaning of My execution on the cross. All of the shame, humiliation, pain, mockery, and rejection that I endured during My trial and crucifixion was turned into blessing — forgiveness, redemption, ransom, and salvation. I endured the worst aspects of humanity and hell to redeem you from them. And My salvation isn’t just for any one race or nation or people, but for all who find themselves drawn to My sacrifice, My love, and My grace. My body was planted like a seed in the ground. It lay there dead to life. Then the power of grace renewed My life, and I rose a victor over sin, death, and hell. Now, on your side of the resurrection, millions upon millions have accepted My offer of salvation, forgiveness, and grace. What I appeared to have lost in humiliation is now given back many times over. Such is the power of the resurrection and of My love, the love of your Savior. On top of all the blessings that stream from the mercy and grace of the cross and the empty tomb, remember this: this resurrection power is available to you to help you as you live for Me (Ephesians 1:17-20). My resurrection from death’s hold changes everything for you… even in the middle of the week, on a normal Thursday, that seems so far away from resurrection Sunday. I was lifted up from the earth so that you could be lifted up to share with Me in resurrected glory (Colossians 3:1-3). So blessings to you this Thursday as you live for Me by resurrection power from the Holy Spirit! Verses to Live So here is a brief look back as I was headed to the cross. After you read this, I hope you will remember the short little parable of the grain of wheat included in the following verses. Because of the resurrection power at work in you, when you offer yourself to Me and the work of the kingdom, your sacrifices and efforts are multiplied by grace to touch more hearts. That is the power of My cross and the empty tomb… even on a seemingly unimportant Thursday — a day to plant seeds and share in the future harvest of grace! Pharisees (to one another): Our efforts to squelch Him [Jesus] have not worked, but now is not the time for action. Look, the world is following after Him. Among the crowds traveling to Jerusalem were Greeks seeking to follow God and worship at the great feast. Some of them came to Philip with an important request. Greek Pilgrims (to Philip): Sir, we are hoping to meet Jesus. Philip, a disciple from the Galilean village of Bethsaida, told Andrew that these Greeks wanted to see Jesus. Together Andrew and Philip approached Jesus to inform Him about the request. Jesus (to Philip and Andrew): The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth: unless a grain of wheat is planted in the ground and dies, it remains a solitary seed. But when it is planted, it produces in death a great harvest. The one who loves this life will lose it, and the one who despises it in this world will have life forevermore. Anyone who serves Me must follow My path; anyone who serves Me will want to be where I am, and he will be honored by the Father. My spirit is low and unsettled. How can I ask the Father to save Me from this hour? This hour is the purpose for which I have come into the world. But what I can say is this: “Father, glorify Your name!” Suddenly a voice echoed from the heavens. The Father: I have glorified My name. And again I will bring glory in this hour that will resound throughout
Today’s Verse – 1 Thessalonians 4:3
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality… —1 Thessalonians 4:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sanctified sounds “churchy” and old-fashioned to many people today. However, sanctified is a powerful God-fashioned word that means to make someone or something special, holy, reserved, and prepared for God’s use and glory, something or someone that is not common. We are called to be an uncommon people, holy, and set apart for God (1 Peter 2:9-10). This is especially true regarding sexual immorality, something pervasive in the culture of the early church and today. We’re to stay far away from it, glorifying and honoring God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:18-20) while celebrating God’s plan for joyful sexual fulfillment in marriage (Proverbs 5; 1 Corinthians 7:1-7). My Prayer… Father God, please protect and empower us as we seek to resist sexual temptation in our sexually charged culture. We consciously offer ourselves and our bodies to you as holy sacrifices, seeking to glorify, honor, and please you in how we use our bodies. In Jesus’ name, each of us longs to worship you with all our heart, mind, speech, and physical strength. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
03 Apr 2024
The reason we should thank God for Easter is that death could not hold Jesus. He overcame it and rose again after crucifixion. Likewise, nothing will stop the will of God from being fulfilled in our lives if we believe. No problem, no power, no person will succeed in this. Acts 2:22-33.